Every member of the community has a significant role in pushing for the community’s development. Men, women or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Queer, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA) have the voice in raising their issues, concerns, and suggestions for improving their village’s growth. In Del Gallego, Camarines Sur, community members of Barangay Mansalaya shattered societal norms on women.

According to Annaliza Tiballa, 45, treasurer of Barangay Mansalaya, most people perceive that women should only be assigned household responsibilities but through the Department of Social Welfare and Development Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS), women were provided opportunities to go out of their homes and do more.

“Nung magkaroon ng KALAHI-CIDSS, isa sa mga natutunan ng mga babae ay natuto sila na mailabas ang saloobin nila,” she said.
(When we became part of KALAHI-CIDSS, one of the lessons learned by women is to share their opinion.)

Annaliza also stated that women gained dignity and were able to face people through the program.

With determination to rise up to from the pandemic, the community proposed the retrofitting and refurbishing of multi-purpose building as temporary quarantine facility. The project amounting to PHP 300,000.00 was funded by KALAHI-CIDSS PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn Indigenous Peoples –
Community-Driven Development (PAMANA IP-CDD) program.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

The community saw the need for a quarantine facility due to the increasing number of Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) returning to the barangay.

“Simula nung 2nd quarter ng 2020, nagkaroon kami ng LSI na nasa 200 hanggang sa ngayon,” Annaliza explained.
(Starting the 2nd quarter of 2020 until the present, we have had 200 LSIs.)

With the implementation of the sub-project, the community experienced a problem with construction workers due to misinterpretation of the salary. Through a series of discussions, both sides have settled the issue. Experiencing the problem, the community recognized the importance of transparency when implementing the project.

“Napakaganda ng pagbabago ng community nung sumali sa KALAHI-CIDSS. Unang-una po ay nagkakaisa ang mga volunteer at nagkaroon ng transparency,” Ronilo Surara, 44, Barangay Chairperson said.
(Positive changes happened to the community when we joined KALAHI-CIDSS. First is the camaraderie among volunteers and the practice of transparency.)

Annaliza mentioned that transparency is already practiced not only in KALAHI-CIDSS but also in other transactions of the community.

“Mas mainam talaga na laging may pagpupulong dahil dito napag-usapan ang mga hakbang o desisyong gagawin, ano ba ang plano para umunlad at mabago ang estado ng komunidad,” she conveyed.
(It is better to conduct meetings religiously because the community is able to discuss steps or possible actions and plans for the development of the community.)

Handling a group of community members is not easy but Milagros Rombaon, 51, community volunteer, effortlessly led the Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC). The BSPMC manages the overall implementation of the sub-project.

Milagros proudly said that she learned that each community volunteer should be transparent and focused in implementing the project to avoid disunity.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa KALAHI-CIDSS dahil ang barangay namin ay tinutulungan nila umunlad,” Milagros mentioned.
(We are thankful to KALAHI-CIDSS because they helped improve our barangay.)

The universe provides endless possibilities and opportunities, especially for women. Both Annaliza and Milagros proved that women have the right to lead, to let their voice be heard and to decide.

“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception,” Ruth Bader Ginsburg, American lawyer and jurist said.

ABOUT DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS
DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS is a poverty alleviation program that helps communities in poor municipalities to identify challenges on poverty and implement developmental projects using the CDD approach.

To hasten approval of community projects and implementation during the pandemic, the program uses Disaster Response Operations Modality (DROM), a simplified Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC) that still follows the principles of CDD.

Last year, DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS implemented PAMANA IP-CDD program in three (3) barangays of Del Gallego, Camarines Sur with a grant amounting to PHP 1,800,000.00.

For more details about DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS, follow this link:
https://kalahi.dswd.gov.ph/about/community-driven-development